ES2748207B2 - HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILE VEHICLE

Technical sector

The present invention relates generally, in a first aspect, to a headlight for a motor vehicle.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a headlight.

Prior state of the art

The headlights in motorized vehicles must satisfy regulations in the relevant market that dictate the framework of functionality with respect to the light emission provided. Said regulations govern, inter alia, the minimum and maximum light intensity (lumens), and the angular range of the illumination with respect to the vehicle's direction of travel.

In general, a headlamp is made up of a housing and a lampshade mounted on the housing. The lampshade generally has a level of transparency which allows light to pass through at least to some degree, while the housing is generally made of an opaque material that does not allow light to pass through. For this reason the resulting illumination is determined in part by the spatial configuration of the housing and the lampshade.

In addition, recent trends in vehicle front area design reduce the space in the side corners of the vehicle, thus reducing the size available for the headlight housing and therefore the cavity defined by the housing. As this cavity is the one that generally contains the lighting assembly, said reduction of space can be problematic for the proportion of satisfactory lighting and / or that it complies with the lighting regulations.

In the state of the art, headlights are known that meet the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 of the present invention, that is to say that they comprise a first emitter and a second emitter.

For example, in US2018 / 0170247 A1 a headlamp with two light emitters is proposed. However, the purpose of this headlight is to provide an additional light emitter to generate aesthetic illumination through the front grill (or grille) of the vehicle. Said document does not contemplate the possible faults of the lighting with regard to the fulfillment of the regulations. It is an indirect and non-functional lighting of the front grille, where a user located in the front area of the vehicle does not directly perceive the light beams generated by the additional light emitter.

It therefore seems necessary to offer an alternative to the state of the art that provides a headlamp configured in such a way as to provide adequate lighting that can satisfy the relevant regulations, and that does not suffer from the drawbacks of the headlights known in the state of the art.

Explanation of the invention

To this end, a first aspect of the present invention refers to a headlight for a motor vehicle, which comprises a housing, a lampshade mounted on the housing, and where the housing and the lampshade define a cavity. A first light emitting module is arranged in the cavity, which emits a first light radiation, and the lampshade is configured to extract the first light radiation in substantially a first direction.

The headlamp is characterized in that it comprises a light-emitting surface arranged at a substantially lateral end of the headlamp, and a second light-emitting module arranged in the cavity, where the second light-emitting module emits a second light radiation. .

Furthermore, the first light emitting module and the second light emitting module are turned on simultaneously, and the light exit surface is configured to extract the second light radiation in substantially a second direction. The first address and the second address are substantially different. The second light emitting module, oriented towards the side of the headlight and emitting light behind the grille, will illuminate those areas of visibility where the first light emitting module does not cover. Preferably, it is a headlight for a motor vehicle. This configuration advantageously results in satisfactory illumination with respect to the front area of the vehicle.

In some exemplary embodiments of the headlamp, the first light emitting module comprises at least one first light emitter, and where the second light emitting module comprises at least one third light emitter, where the at least one first light emitter and the at least one third light emitter are configured to generate a first lighting function. Thus, the first lighting function, for example an indicator light signaling, is generated by both the first light emitter and the second light emitter. The second light emitting module will complement the scope or angle of the first light emitting module, the scope of this first light emitting module being insufficient to exceed the homologation requirements described.

Furthermore, the first light emitting module may additionally comprise at least one second light emitter, and wherein the second light emitting module further comprises at least a fourth light emitter, where the at least one second light emitter and the at least a fourth light emitter are configured to generate a second lighting function. Thus, the second lighting function, for example a position light illumination, is generated by both the first light emitter and the second light emitter. The second light emitting module will complement the scope or angle of the first light emitting module, the scope of this first light emitting module being insufficient to exceed the homologation requirements described.

According to some embodiments, the first light emitting module is configured to turn on the at least one first light emitter and / or the at least one second light emitter, and where the second light emitting module is configured to turn on the at least one light emitter. least one third light emitter or the at least one fourth light emitter. This configuration advantageously facilitates the control of the different light emitters through the first module as the main entity. In order to optimize the space occupied by the second light emitting module, both the light generated by the third light emitter and that generated by the fourth light emitter are extracted by the same light output surface, which has reduced dimensions. In order not to produce mixtures of colors and / or intensities, the first function and lighting and the second lighting function cannot be generated simultaneously by the second light emitting module.

In some embodiments, the first light emitting module is arranged at a first end of the cavity, and the second light emitter is arranged at a second end of the cavity. This configuration advantageously allows lighting to be provided from different positions within the cavity, which results in lighting in different directions and / or with different ranges. This configuration facilitates the mutual complement or supplement of the light intensity or the light range between the light emitters. In some embodiments, the first end is arranged in the cavity substantially opposite the second end.

In other embodiments, the first and second light-emitting modules are operatively connected such that the first light-emitting module governs the second light-emitting module. This simplifies the control of the light emitters, particularly when they are configured in such a way that the second light emitting module performs the same lighting functions as the first light emitting module, and the on and / or off commands are received. on the second light emitting module directly from the first module light emitter, not requiring the second light emitting module to be connected directly to the central unit.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first light-emitting module and the second light-emitting module are governed by a central control unit, and therefore individually connected to said central control unit.

In some embodiments, the headlamp comprises an optical element arranged between the second light emitting module and the light-emitting surface, where the optical element is configured to direct at least a fraction of the second light radiation through the surface. light output.

In some embodiments, the optical element comprises a lens, which advantageously allows the selection of materials and parameters to manipulate the incident light in the desired way.

In an exemplary embodiment the optical element comprises an optical light reflector, which advantageously provides a cost effective mechanism for manipulating and / or redirecting incident illumination.

In some embodiments, the optical element comprises a light guide, which advantageously provides spatial flexibility with regard to light redirection.

As mentioned above, the headlamp comprises a single optical element to modify the light properties of the light generated by the second light emitting module, in particular, to direct said light beams towards the light exit surface. In this way it is possible to reduce the space occupied by the second light emitting module, thus reducing the complexity of the assembly. That is why, in the particular embodiment that the second light-emitting module comprises a third light emitter and a fourth light emitter, both light emitters cannot be activated simultaneously, but must be activated sequentially. . Alternatively, the headlamp comprises an optical element associated with each of the light emitters that comprises the second light emitting module.

In some embodiments, the light exit surface is an opening arranged in the housing. In this configuration, the contour of the housing can be used to define a hole that will allow the light output improving, for example, as far as lighting angles are concerned.

According to some embodiments, the lampshade comprises a mask, where the mask defines the light exit surface, so that the lampshade integrates the light exit surface. Using a mask advantageously allows, among others, retroactive adjustment the contour of the housing opening. Therefore, it can be a cost-effective mechanism to implement a novel lighting assembly in an existing housing.

In some embodiments, where the first light emitting module (108) comprises at least one LED device ("Light-Emitting Diode") and at least one first PCB device (128) arranged at the first end of the headlight (130) , where the at least one first PCB device (128) is configured to control said LED devices (124, 126), and where the second light emitting module (110) comprises at least one LED device ("Light-Emitting Diode") and at least one second PCB device (129) arranged at the second end of the headlight (132), where the at least one second PCB device (129) is operatively connected to the first PCB device (128) through wiring (122) . This configuration advantageously allows synchronized control of the respective LED devices, which allows the first device PCB to control the second device PCB, simplifying the electronics of the assembly.

Advantageously, an LED device ("Light-Emitting Diode") consumes, in general, less energy than other alternatives. Furthermore, said light emitters may comprise light emitters of different colors, in order to carry out different lighting functions.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, each PCB device is individually connected to the central control unit. This advantageously facilitates centralized control of the light emitting modules, which can be useful in a configuration where each light emitting module separately exerts a particular lighting function.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least one headlight as described in this disclosure, and which is characterized by the fact that at least a fraction of the light radiation redirected through the surface or Opening spreads in the direction of a substantially centralized region in front of the vehicle. In this way, satisfactory lighting can be provided, which can also meet the scope requirements of regulation.

Preferably, the optical element is configured in such a way that it redirects at least a fraction of the second light radiation, so that the redirected light radiation reaches a minimum angular distance from a vertical plane intersecting the front end of the vehicle.

Preferably, the optical element is configured in such a way that it redirects at least a fraction of the second light radiation in such a way that the redirected light radiation reaches a minimum angular distance of 45 ° with respect to a vertical plane that intersects the front end of the vehicle. Thus, the light radiation generated by the second light-emitting module complements the light radiation generated by the first light-emitting module, achieving a satisfactory and sufficient angle.

In some embodiments, at least a fraction of the light radiation redirected through the surface or aperture is spatially oriented such that it propagates through the holes in a front grill or grill of the vehicle.

Brief description of the drawings

The foregoing and other advantages and characteristics will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of some embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken by way of illustration and not limitation, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lighthouse proposed by a first aspect of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a detail of an embodiment.

Figure 3 is a top cross-sectional view in detail of a second end of the proposed lighthouse according to a first embodiment.

Figure 4 is a detailed top cross-sectional view of a second end of the proposed lighthouse according to a second embodiment.

Detailed description of some examples of realization

An example of embodiment of the headlight 100 for a motorized vehicle or automobile is illustrated in the attached Figures in a first aspect of the invention for which it comprises, as seen in Figure 1, a housing 104 containing a lampshade 106. In the tulip 106 an aperture or light exit surface is provided. Furthermore, the headlamp has a first light emitting module 108 and a second light emitting module 110, both arranged in the cavity. The headlamp in this example is a headlamp on the front right side of the vehicle (taking as reference a user positioned inside the vehicle interior and oriented in the forward direction of the vehicle). Thus, the first light emitting module 108 is configured to emit a first light radiation 144 through the lampshade 106. The first light emitting module 108 is located at a first end 130 of the cavity, in particular, at the left end of the cavity, according to figure 1. The first light emitting module 108 would be the main emitting module and responsible for generating mainly a first lighting function.

Said first light emitting module 108 comprises a first light emitter 1081 and a plurality of optical elements for modifying the light properties of the light generated by the first light emitter 1081, obtaining the first light radiation 144.

Due to space requirements available in the front lateral area of the vehicle, design requirements or others, the first luminous radiation 144 does not meet the homologation requirements, in particular for range or angle in the horizontal plane. That is why the headlamp of the present invention has a second light emitting module 110 also arranged in the cavity and, in particular, at a second end 132 of the cavity (right end of the cavity, according to Figure 1). Said second light emitting module 110 generates a second light radiation 142 in a second direction, different from the first direction, with the aim of complementing the illumination range or angle in the horizontal plane of the first illumination module 108. Thus, both the The first light emitting module 108 and the second lighting module 110 are turned on simultaneously, in order to meet the homologation requirements.

To achieve this, the headlamp comprises a light exit surface 116, arranged at a lateral end of the headlamp. As can be seen in Figure 1, the light exit surface 116 is arranged on a surface substantially perpendicular to the plane comprising the tulip 106, that is, on a lateral surface of the housing 104. Therefore, the second light emitting module emits light towards one side of the headlight 100 in order to increase the range or angle in the horizontal plane.

In this way, the light radiation generated by the second light emitting module 110 and extracted from the headlight 100 through the aperture 116 propagates towards a central region of the vehicle, but in such a way that it reaches a minimum angular distance with respect to a vertical plane. . Thus, by way of example, the first emission direction generated by the first emitter module 108 and the second emission direction generated by the second light emitter 110 diverge 45 ° in a horizontal plane.

The second light radiation will be directed towards the front grille or grille of the vehicle, also known as the front grille or cooling grille of the vehicle. Thus, the second light radiation will be propagated through the holes in the front grill of the vehicle, achieving direct illumination towards the front of the vehicle.

In the schematic embodiment of Figure 2, the housing 104 of the headlight 100 is observed. Specifically, of the same right headlight 100 of Figure 1. Thus, the first light emitting module 108 comprises a first PCB 128. Said first emitting module light 108 is arranged at a first end 130 of headlight 100. At the opposite end, specifically the second end 132 of the headlight 100 is the second light emitting module 110, which comprises a second PCB 129. Both the first PCB 128 and the second PCB 129 are connected by means of a wiring 122, so that both emitters of light turn on simultaneously. It is understood that each light emitting module is additionally composed of LED devices ("Light-Emitting Diode") and other optical elements to modify the luminous properties of the light generated by the LED devices.

Figure 3 shows a detailed horizontal sectional view of the second end 132 of the headlight 100. Specifically, the second light emitting module 110 is observed, which emits light through the light exit surface 116. The second light radiation 144 is offset from the first light radiation 142 (not shown in FIG. 3), but which would be transmitted through the tulip 106.

The light exit surface 116 is on a substantially lateral side or end of the headlight 100 or of the housing 104. Said light exit surface 116 on the lampshade 106 may be, for example, defined by a mask 136. Said mask 136 it may comprise a monolithic entity or it may be provided in several parts thus defining the light exit surface 116. In the illustrated example, the mask 136 defines the light exit surface 116, so that the lampshade 106 integrates the exit surface light source 116. Alternatively, light exit surface 116 may be defined simply by the contour of housing 104 around lampshade 106, or by means of a hole or hole made in the surface of housing 104.

In order to correctly direct the light beams generated by the second light emitting module 110 towards the light exit surface 116 and, thus, towards the lateral zone of the headlight 100, said headlight 100 also comprises, in an embodiment example , an optical element 112. In the concrete example of figure 3, it is an optical reflector that redirects the light beams. Alternatively, the optical element can also be a lens.

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the second light emitting module 110 comprises a second PCB 129 and a third light emitter 1103. Said third light emitter 1103 performs, for example, the position light function. Additionally, the light emitting module 108 comprises a first light emitter 1081, not seen in the figure, where the third light emitter 1103 and the first light emitter 1081 generate the same lighting function, complementing the second light emitting module. 110 the angle or range not covered by the first light emitting module 108.

The first light emitting module 108 and the second light emitting module 110 can be connected and controlled by a central control unit, not seen in the figures. For the Therefore, both modules will be electrically connected to the central control unit, not requiring that they be connected to each other.

Alternatively, the first light emitting module 108 and the second light emitting module 110 are connected by wiring 122, so that the first light emitting module 108 governs the second light emitting module 110, simplifying the electronic scheme of the headlamp. Thus, the first PCB 128 will issue the on and off commands to the second PCB 129.

According to the alternative embodiment of figure 4, the second light emitting module 110 comprises a second PCB 129, a third light emitter 1103 and a fourth light emitter 1104. Said third light emitter 1103 performs, for example , the position light function. Said fourth light emitter 1104 performs the intermittent signaling function. Additionally, the light emitter module 108 comprises a first light emitter 1081, not seen in the figure, where the third light emitter 1103 and the first light emitter 1081 generate the same lighting function. Furthermore, the light emitting module 108 comprises a second light emitter 1082, not seen in the figure, where the fourth light emitter 1104 and the second light emitter 1082 generate the same lighting function complementing the second light emitter module 110 the angle or range not covered by the first light emitting module 108.

In the latter configuration, the first light emitter module 108 is configured to simultaneously turn on the first light emitter 1081 with the second light emitter 1082 or alternately (not simultaneously) turn on the first light emitter 1081 and the second light emitter 1082. Thus, both lighting functions can be activated simultaneously by the first light emitting module 108, since each light emitter comprises its own associated optical elements, so that the light can be individually treated and adapted. On the contrary, the second light emitting module 110 is configured to alternately (not simultaneously) turn on the third light emitter 1103 or the fourth light emitter 1104. The reason is that, in a confined space, it cannot exist optics associated with each of the light emitters, so that both light emitters share both the optical element 112 and the light exit surface 116. Thus, one of the two functions generated by the second light emitting module will have priority about the other function.

The optical element 112 may comprise, for example, an optical guide or light guide, which redirects at least a fraction of the light radiation emitted by the second light emitting module 110 towards a direction in a centralized area in front of the vehicle. Figure 4 shows a horizontal section of an elongated cylindrical light guide, which directs the beams of light towards the exit surface 116 by means of optical structures disposed within the light guide. The light emitter and optical element 112 are configured such that at least a fraction of the redirected radiation reaches through the grill of the vehicle, thus providing illumination in front of the vehicle. This second direction (and range) is schematically demonstrated by the second light radiation 142 or illuminated field The optical guide can be mounted in the cavity by means of a bracket that defines its position and its orientation relative to the housing 104 and relative to the emitter modules. of light.

A person skilled in the art could introduce changes and modifications to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Claims (18)

1. Headlight (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising - a housing (104), - a tulip (106) mounted on the casing (104), where the casing (104) and the tulip (106) define a cavity, - a first light emitting module (108) arranged in the cavity, where the first light emitting module (108) emits a first light radiation (144), where the lampshade (106) is configured to extract the first light radiation in substantially a first address, characterized in that the headlamp (100) comprises: - a light exit surface (116) arranged at a substantially lateral end of the headlamp (100), and - a second light emitting module (110) arranged in the cavity so as to generate a second light radiation (142) capable of being extracted through said light exit surface (116) in substantially a second direction destined to complement the span or angle of illumination in the horizontal plane of the first light emitting module (108), the span or angle of illumination of the first light emitting module (108) being insufficient to meet the requirements for approval of a lighting function, - where the first light emitting module (108) and the second light emitting module (110) are turned on simultaneously to generate the same lighting function, and - where said light exit surface (116) is configured to extract the second light radiation in substantially the second direction, where the first direction and the second direction are substantially different, the second light emitting module (110) complementing the angle o illumination scope not covered by the first light emitting module (108). Headlight (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first light emitting module (108) comprises at least one first light emitter (1081), and where the second light emitting module (110) comprises at least one third emitter light source (1103), where the at least one first light emitter (1081) and the at least one third light emitter (1103) are configured to generate a first lighting function. Headlight (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first light emitting module (108) additionally comprises at least one second light emitting module (1082), and wherein the second light emitting module (110) additionally comprises at least one fourth light emitter (1104), where the at least one second light emitter (1082) and the at least one fourth light emitter (1104) are configured to generate a second lighting function. Headlight (100) according to claim 3, wherein the first light emitting module (108) is configured to turn on the at least one first light emitter (1081) and / or the at least one second light emitter (1082) , and where the second light emitting module (110) is configured to turn on the at least one third light emitter (1103) or the at least one fourth light emitter (1104). Headlight (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first light emitting module (108) is arranged in a first end (130) of the cavity, and the second light emitting module (100) is arranged in a second end (132) of the cavity, and where the first end (130) is disposed in the cavity substantially opposite the second end (132). Headlight (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second light emitting modules (108, 110) are operatively connected such that the first light emitting module (108) governs the second light emitting module ( 110). Headlight (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first light emitting module (108) and the second light emitting module (110) are controlled by a central control unit. Headlight (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an optical element (112) arranged between the second light emitting module (110) and the light exit surface (116), where the optical element (112) It is configured to direct at least a fraction of the second light radiation through the light exit surface (116). Headlight (100) according to claim 8, wherein the optical element (112) comprises a lens. Headlight (100) according to claim 8, wherein the optical element (112) comprises an optical reflector of light. Headlight (100) according to claim 8, wherein the optical element (112) comprises a light guide. Headlight (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light exit surface (116) is an aperture provided in the housing (104). Headlight (100) according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the lampshade (106) comprises a mask (136), where the mask (136) defines the light exit surface (116), so that the lampshade (106) integrates the light exit surface (116). Headlight (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said headlight (100) is a headlight for a motor vehicle. Lighthouse (100) according to any of the claims, wherein the first light emitting module (108) comprises at least one LED device ("Light-Emitting Diode") and at least one first PCB device (128) arranged in the first end of the headlight (130), where the at least one first PCB device (128) is configured to control said LED devices, and where the second light-emitting module (110) comprises at least one LED device ("Light-Emitting Diode" ) and at least one second PCB device (129) arranged at the second end of the headlight (132), where the at least one second PCB device (129) is operatively connected to the first PCB device (128) through wiring (122 ). 16. Motor vehicle, comprising the headlight (100) according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at least a fraction of the light radiation redirected through the surface or aperture (116) propagates in the direction to a substantially centralized region in front of the vehicle. 17. Motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the optical element (112) is configured in such a way that it redirects at least a fraction of the second light radiation, so that the redirected light radiation reaches a minimum angular distance with respect to a vertical plane intersecting the front end of the vehicle. 18.

Motor vehicle according to claims 16 to 17, wherein at least a fraction of the light radiation redirected through the surface or aperture (116) is spatially oriented in such a way that it propagates through the holes in a front grill of the vehicle .